FIRE - How did your Boss/Colleagues take the news?

fred246

I really don't remember any other comment apart from "I wish I could". I remember one saying his big mistake was sending 4 children to private school. I think most people who FIRE are careful with money. I was known as the money saving expert. Behind your back I bet people make comments like "I'd rather be at work than re-use teabags or whatever. I remember an HR bloke saying "give that to your accountant". I retired early by doing everything myself. I wouldn't have been able to if I had paid advisers and accountants.

Sea_Shell

NoMore wrote: »

WGAF, your doing it for you not for what your colleagues and boss thinks

Took a minute there to work out what WGAF meant!!!, Got it now!! And yes you're right!!

I have to do what's best for me, not worry about their feelings, bad timing etc of work or how it might impact my colleagues, left to pick up the workload.

crv1963

Sea_Shell wrote: »

Took a minute there to work out what WGAF meant!!!, Got it now!! And yes you're right!!

I have to do what's best for me, not worry about their feelings, bad timing etc of work or how it might impact my colleagues, left to pick up the workload.

The question is to ask yourself- who cares? Organisationally you could be replaced in an instance as no-one is indispensable, you may be missed by some colleagues but would they hesitate if the boot was on the other foot?

You only live one life, enjoy it! Work is ultimately just that- work, you turn up they pay you for your skills. If you have the means and something else you'd rather do with your time then go.

hugheskevi

For any of you that have put your FIRE plan into action, and retired early, how did your resignation go down at work? Especially if you were under 55.

I haven't reached exit point yet, but I will be about 45 when I do

Did you just give your standard notice, or more warning?

I am completely open that I expect to leave in 2022 or 2023. I expect it to be on unpaid leave rather than resignation however, as that gives me more ill-health/death protection. I'll just stay on unpaid leave as long as possible.

Did an "event(s)" at work push to you towards making that decision, sooner rather than later?

Been planning it for years, offer of paid exit would accelerate things, changes to pension scheme will be likely to prompt a move to part-time working prior to resignation.


Did they have any idea about your financial circumstances beforehand?

Yes

Did you face any jealousy or hostility in being able to leave, during your notice, or any "it's alright for you" type comments?

It is more disbelief I face, not for any good reason, just that retiring at age 45 is so unconventional most dismiss it out of hand.

OR did you just say you'd had a win on the lottery!!!?

I happily share my spreadsheets with all who are interested - both of them so far

And for those of you "on the cusp" of FIRE, how do you think the news will be received at work, when you do hand in your notice?

They really couldn't care less, lots of staff come and go. They are likely to be reasonably happy to have a lot of notice to replace me, compared to most who leave within a month or so of announcing departure.

Adding 10 characters outside of quote.

Mnd

I was past 55, 63 when I retired, I was not really desperate to leave but the firm relocated and I took that opportunity to make the break.
My boss sort of knew, when he told us about the relocation he asked me if it was a possibility that I would leave.
I gave 1 months notice, he requested I do 6 weeks to train my replacement(2)..and I did a 1 off special appearance to help solve a particular issue.
Took about 4 minutes to get used to being retired, havnt regretted it for a moment

rnj

I haven't retired yet but feel I can, I've been off work recently and was very bored so I plan to keep working more, it's quite stress free and pays well, commute is a nice 20min drive. Originally planned for 55 but now maybe 45-50. I guess whenever you go you need something to retire "to".

Yes, will reiterate nobody is indispensable, they may struggle a bit without you, gripe a little but the business will move on, maybe to a lesser standard or quality but it will still go on. Only exception I can think is if you own the business

Spreadsheetman

rnj wrote: »

...Yes, will reiterate nobody is indispensable, they may struggle a bit without you, gripe a little but the business will move on, maybe to a lesser standard or quality but it will still go on. Only exception I can think is if you own the business

Selling my share is what has made retirement possible, not just financially (although that was welcome), but feeling that "my" company is in other (good) hands now and will prosper when I'm gone.

Wenlock

I retired at 50. Totally hacked off and correctly assumed that there was no likelihood of redundancy within the next few years.

Apparently some of my colleagues genuinely believe I must have won the lottery! Sadly I just have a tiny pension, plus a reasonable cash hoard.

Ultimately, getting out with your health and sanity (almost) intact is all that matters.

bigfer

i gave the statutory 3 months notice. Spoke to my manager for 10 mins to explain i was retiring and not moving on and that was the last i ever saw or had contact with him.
i had 25 years service and the miserable b*gger didn't even lift the phone to say toodle pip........what a tool. He was one of the main reasons i left early anyway. But then there are so many managers like him.....they are not managers anymore, just box tickers with an insatiable appetite for annual appraisals......

Tabby_cat

Sea_Shell wrote: »

I thought I'd ask this here, rather than the Employment section of the forum, as I think it's more relevant.

For any of you that have put your FIRE plan into action, and retired early, how did your resignation go down at work? Especially if you were under 55.

I'm 53 (52 when I retired last December). My OH is 10 years older than me, and we worked together in the same company. I've been telling people for the last 20 years that I was going to retire at 55 at the latest.

Did you just give your standard notice, or more warning?

We told our line manager in October that we wouldn't be returning in the new year just so he wouldn't book in any work for us. Standard notice and left early December.

Did an "event(s)" at work push to you towards making that decision, sooner rather than later?

OH, Yes....working for a huge american engineering company, the corporate BS was beyond a joke. Woman's day, Black Engineer's day, Hispanic engineer's day, Gay Coming out day (really!) and Diversity Week all added up to us not wanting to be there anymore. That, plus interesting work running down and not wanting to suffer the tediousness of a 1.5 hours commute to sit and do the work of trained monkey.

Did they have any idea about your financial circumstances beforehand?

Absolutely. Topic was broached with FA in the summer when it became obvious forward workload was looking flat.

Did you face any jealousy or hostility in being able to leave, during your notice, or any "it's alright for you" type comments?

Just jealousy, wishing they could. All wished us well and we had a great send-off. Tears shed all round.

OR did you just say you'd had a win on the lottery!!!?

No need to as I'd been spouting about retirement for so long.

And for those of you "on the cusp" of FIRE, how do you think the news will be received at work, when you do hand in your notice?

Genuinely would like to know how you all got on.

Cheers:beer:

I read on this forum a few years ago "Never, on your death-bed will any-one say, I wish I'd spent more time in the office". Nothing ever rang so true.